NUMEROUS DOGS--USEFUL ANIMALS--FOOD SUPPLY--FROZEN FISH--BRINGING THEM
HOME--VIGOROUS WORK FOR BOYS AND DOGS--FRANK'S TUMBLE--SAM'S DUCKING--
SKATING PARTIES--ALEC'S THRILLING ADVENTURE--THE RACE FOR LIFE--NORTHERN
GREY WOLVES--THEIR CUNNING--THEIR VARIOUS STRATAGEMS--MR. ROSS'S FEARS--
THE SEARCH PARTY--ALEC RESCUED--THE WOLVES SHOT.
It may seem strange to some of our readers that such numbers of dogs
were kept by Mr Ross. It must be remembered that they were, in those
regions, the only animals in those days that were of any use to man.
So abundant were the fish that the dogs were kept with little expense.
The lakes and rivers so swarmed with them that a few gill nets and an
Indian could easily take care of a large number of dogs during the
summer months. For the winter supply an immense number of whitefish
were caught just as the winter was setting in. These fish were hung up
on high stagings beyond the reach of wolves and stray, prowling dogs.
So intense and steady was the frost that the fish, which immediately
froze solid after being hung up, remained in that condition until well
on into the next April. Such a thing as the temperature rising high
enough to even soften the fish was almost unknown. The result was the
fish were kept by this great preservative, the intense frost, in prime
condition for both the people and the dogs. On account of their
abundance, and the ease with which they could be obtained, they were for
many years the principal article of food.
The Indians take but little care of their dogs in the summer time; they
literally have to fish for themselves, and very clever are some of them
at it. So abundant are the fish, and so clever are the dogs in
capturing several varieties that haunt the marshes and shallows along
the shores, that the dogs easily secure sufficient numbers to sustain
life and even grow fat upon. On these fishing excursions the Indian
dogs often wander over a hundred miles away from the wigwams of their
masters, and are gone for months together.
While quantities of fish were being caught during every month of the
year--for even in the coldest parts of the winter they could be caught
through holes in the ice--yet the actual full fishery season only lasted
a few weeks. On this fishery everybody depended for their principal
winter supply. It generally began a short time before the ice set, and
continued about as long after. The fish, which were principally
whitefish, were all caught in gill nets. When brought ashore they were
stabbed through the flesh near the tail. Through this incision a sharp-
pointed stick was inserted. Ten were always thus hung up on each stick,
with their heads hanging down. While still warm a single slash of a
sharp knife was given to each fish between the gills. This caused what
little blood there was in them to drip out, and thus materially added to
the quality of the fish, and also helped in its preservation.
The work of bringing these thousands of fish home was done by the dog-
trains. It is heavy work, as each train of four dogs was expected to
draw twenty sticks of fish at each load. However, the track was
generally all ice, and so it was much easier than travelling in a forest
trail in the deep snow. Six hundred pounds are considered a good load
for four dogs on ordinary trails.
As Mr Ross's fishermen had hung up about fifty thousand fish, besides
packing a large number of the finest ones in ice or snow, there was
considerable work for the trains in dragging them home. The work is so
steady that it is considered capital training for young dogs. Of
course, they are not at first given as heavy loads as are the old
trains. The boys were allowed to go with their trains about three times
a week. This was quite sufficient for them, for, although they rode on
the empty sleds, wrapped in a buffalo skin, on the outward trip to the
fishery camp, yet they felt in honour bound to imitate the Indian
drivers of the older trains, and walk, or rather trot, as much as they
could on the return with their heavy loads.
The kind-hearted Indians, while admiring the pluck of the boys when, on
the first trip, they urged for heavier loads, wisely and firmly insisted
that they should take light ones to begin with.
"This is only fun," said Alec, "just running on the ice. I have walked
all day in the Highlands, and was all right the next day. I want a full
load, for I intend to run the whole distance on the home stretch."
"Twenty miles on ice, with some slipping and falling and managing a
lively dog-train, will seem a long journey ere it is ended," said
Mustagan, a grand old Indian who that year had charge of the work of
bringing home the fish.
Frank thought that with his strong dogs he could take more than Sam or
Alec, but even to this Mustagan objected.
"Yes," he said, "fine big dogs, but very young, bones still soft. Big
loads by and by, but not now."
"I wish we had brought our skates," said Sam, "and then we would have
had no trouble in making the twenty miles." This, it was unanimously
agreed, was a capital suggestion, and one that would be carried out on
future trips.
So in the meantime they decided to carry out Mustagan's request and only
take light loads. The wisdom of this was seen before they had gone many
miles. The gait at which the old, experienced dogs struck out, and
which was kept up by the drivers, as well as by the dog-trains of the
boys, was altogether too rapid for them.
Very gamely they kept up the pace for four or five miles, when Mustagan
called a halt for the first pipe. His observant eyes had been on the
boys, and while he was pleased with their pluck, he was too wise to
allow them to injure themselves; so, taking the matter into his own
hands, he so arranged the sticks of fish on their sleds that, with the
aid of the buffalo skins, he made for each a comfortable seat. It is
not surprising that the boys were willing to accept of the situation,
and, while on the remainder of the trip they rode a good deal, they
often sprang off and, by the vigorous exercises of keeping up with the
Indians on their famous jog trot, kept themselves warm, and also put in
a good deal of training to fit them for longer journeys.
On future trips to the fisheries, as long as the ice kept free of snow,
they carried with them their skates, and not only on the home trip with
loaded sleds, but even on the outward journey, did they have some
capital sport. Alec especially was a splendid skater. Coming from
Scotland, where they had so much more ice than there was in England or
Ireland, he had had greater opportunities for becoming an adept in this
exhilarating sport. He was very much amused at the temper and annoyance
of his dogs when, on a fine stretch of smooth ice, he would dash away
from them at a rate which it was impossible for them to keep up. They
would make the most desperate efforts to travel as fast as he did. When
they realised the impossibility of doing this, hampered as they were by
their heavy load, they would at times set up a most dismal cry that was
a cross between a bark and a howl. At other times some of the dogs
would think that one of the train was shirking his work, and then they
would unmercifully pile on him and give him a sound thrashing.
Well was it for Alec that he had these splendid skating trips;
unconsciously was he preparing for a race for his life.
On one of these home trips Frank, while sitting on his load, wrapped up
in his buffalo robe, went to sleep. He was all right while the sled was
going along in a straight trail, but at one place the road turned at a
sharp angle, and here he had a sudden awakening. The ice was firm and
the dogs were going at a good speed. When they reached the sharp turn
the sled slid around at a great rate, and poor Frank, who like the other
boys had when awake securely hung on to the straps on other trips, was
now so fast asleep that when the sled flew around he was sent in the air
at a tangent, and then went sprawling on the ice quite a number of yards
away. He was well shaken up and badly bruised. After that he took good
care to take his naps on the sleds in less dangerous places.
Sam had a worse adventure than that. One day, while running behind and
driving his train and cheerily talking to his dogs, he had the
misfortune to step through the thin ice into an air hole. He
fortunately had presence of mind enough to throw out his arms, and so,
as the hole was a small one, he only went in up to his armpits. That,
however, was quite enough, as the temperature was many degrees below
zero. He was speedily pulled out and cared for by the Indian drivers.
They quickly threw all the fish from Alec's sled, and, taking the three
buffalo robes which the boys were accustomed to use on the outward
trips, carefully wrapped Sam in them, and securely tied him on it. Then
they said:--
"Now, Master Alec, here is your chance to show the speed of your dogs.
Hang on securely yourself, and see how quickly you can make the ten-mile
trip from here to Sagasta-weekee."
Alec needed no other incentive than the desire to get his beloved Sam
home as quickly as possible. The boys all dearly loved each other, and
a serious accident to one gave sorrow to the other two. The cold was
intense, and it was necessary that Sam should be taken home as speedily
as possible. The weight of the two boys was but little to the active-
spirited dogs, and so when the sharp cracks of the whip sounded around
them, but not on them, and the urgent cries of "Marche! Marche!" with
unusual emphasis kept ringing out from the lips of their master, they
seemed at once to realise that something unusual was the matter; and as
it was also on the home stretch, away they flew at a rate that soon left
the heavily loaded sleds far behind.
In less than an hour's time the distance was covered. Sam was soon in
the hands of loving, experienced friends who knew just what to do, and
so in a day or two he was out again, none the worse for his adventure.
The skating was simply perfect. Just fancy miles and miles of ice,
smooth as glass and stretching out over lake and river in every
direction; no pent-up little pond or skating rink where in a few hours
the ice is ruined by the crowd or melted by the rising temperature.
Here were great lakes and rivers of it that lasted for months. Lakes
full of beautiful islands, whose shores not long ago were lapped by the
murmuring, laughing waves, are now gripped, as in fetters of steel, by
the Frost King. In and out among them glide the merry skaters.
Everybody in that land big enough skated, and skated well.
Jolly parties from the fur-trading posts and mission home joined with
others in making merry groups, who for hours at a time engaged in this
joyous and exhilarating sport. Sometimes several young gentlemen in the
service of the Hudson Bay Company would come over from the fort and join
them in their moonlight excursions. So glorious were the surroundings,
and so exhilarating the sport, that the nights would be far spent ere
they thought of returning home.
There seemed a strange fascination in seeking out new places and
exploring untried branches of the great rivers, which seemed like
streams of molten silver in the bright moonlight as they stretched away
into primitive forests, where the trees on the shores hung heavy with
icicles, or were so bent under the weight of snow that, at times, they
looked like ghostly visitants from dreamland.
As the days passed on these skating excursions were much more extended,
and as the skaters began to get familiar with the different routes the
vigilance which was at first kept up, that none might go astray, was
much relaxed. When there were any indications of a storm or blizzard it
was well understood that no skater was to go out alone, and even then
not beyond some well-defined landmarks.
However, when the weather seemed settled, and the sun shone brightly by
day and the moonlight was clear and beautiful at night, no positive
restraint was upon anyone. Thus, day after day, they merrily skated in
little groups or in pairs as they desired. Sometimes one would dash off
alone, and for hours amidst the weird, picturesque surroundings, such as
a skater alone can find in such a land, would, in the very intoxication
of his bliss, push on and on, without any idea of the progress of time
or of the distance he was travelling.
To Alec, the Scottish lad, there came one beautiful moonlight night an
experience which nearly had a tragic ending. The night was one of
rarest beauty, but it was very cold, so cold that Mr Ross remarked that
the moon looked more like burnished steel than silver. As the merry
party started out he warned them to keep their furs well around them or
severe frostbites would be theirs, in spite of the vigorous exercise of
rapid skating.
The company of half a dozen or so kept together for a time, and then, in
joyous rivalry, shot out and in along the icy stretches between the
granite, fir-clad islands that on that lake were so numerous. As
further they advanced they became more and more separated, until Alec
found himself alone with a young clerk from the trading post, who prided
himself on his skill and speed as a skater. He had been considered the
champion the previous winter, and naturally wished to retain his
laurels. Finding himself alone with Alec, whom he thought but a novice
compared to himself, he endeavoured to show off his speed, but was very
much annoyed and chagrined to find that, skate as rapidly as he would,
the Scottish lad kept alongside and merrily laughed and chatted as on
they sped. Ruffled and angry at being so easily matched by Alec, the
clerk abruptly turned around and skated back. Alec was at first a
little hurt by this discourteous action, but this feeling quickly wore
off as on and on he skated, fairly entranced by the beauty of his
surroundings and the excitement of his sport. After a time he noticed
that the lake was abruptly ending. Just as he was about to circle
around and begin the return journey he saw the mouth of a beautiful
little ice-covered river which ran up into the forest. The ice looked
so smooth and was so transparent, as there it lay in the beautiful
moonlight, and he was so fascinated by the sight, that he could not
resist the impulse to dash in upon it. On and on he glided, on what
seemed to him the most perfect ice that skater ever tried. He did not
appear to observe that this glassy, winding river, on which he was so
joyously skating, was gradually narrowing, until he observed the great
branches of some high trees meeting together and cutting off the bright
moonlight. Skating under these great shadowy branches, with the
glinting moonlight here and there in great patches of white upon the
ice, alternating with the shadows, was a new experience, and very much
did he revel in it, when-- What sound was that?
It must have been only the falling of some drift of snow from an
overloaded branch, or a broken branch itself, and so, although Alec was
startled at hearing any sound amidst these almost noiseless solitudes,
he soon recovered his spirits and dashed on along the narrowing, crooked
stream: but--there it is again! And now as Alec quickly turns his head
and looks he sees what blanches his face for an instant and shows him
the peril of his position. Four great northern grey wolves are skulking
through the snow on the shore, and already their eyes are gleaming in
triumph, and their mouths are watering for their prey. Quick as a flash
he turns, and so do they. Well is it now that the sturdy lad, on his
native lochs in Scottish winters, had practiced every movement, and had
become an adept in twisting and rapid turning on his skates. He will
need it all to-night, as well as the hardened muscles of his vigorous
sports since he came to this wild North Land; for the wolves will not
easily be balked in their efforts to capture and then devour. The very
fact of there being four of them seemed at first in his favour, as the
instant they turned they appeared to get in each other's way. In the
brief delay thus caused Alec was away and was increasing his speed every
instant. But he is not to be let off so easily. Looking behind, he
sees that two are coming on in their long, galloping, speedy way. Where
are the other two? Soon enough will he know.
As we have stated, this little river was very crooked. The cunning
wolves well knew this, and so a couple of them made a short cut through
the woods, to intercept their prey at a spot ahead of him. As an
inspiration, the quick-witted lad took in the situation. He had heard
much already about the cunning of these grey wolves in hunting in relays
the moose and other species of deer, and by having some of their numbers
sent on ahead or stationed in narrow defiles to intercept their prey.
So, suspecting the trap being laid for him, he made up his mind, if
possible, to reach that danger point before those wolves. It was a long
sweep around, like a horse shoe, and he had to make the whole distance
round, while they had but to cross the tongue of land. He had to
traverse at least twice the distance that the wolves had to go, but then
he had the advantage in being on the ice, while they had to loup through
the snow. Still, there were no risks to be taken. For an instant the
thoughts came, as he heard the faint thud, thud on the ice of the fleet
wolves behind him. What if anything should happen to my skates? Or if
I should get in a crack in the ice? But he quickly banished these
thoughts as unworthy. He had all confidence in the splendid skates on
his feet, and saw with delight that he was emerging from the last place
where the trees entirely hid the bright moonlight. Every crack and
dangerous place could now be easily seen and guarded against.
On and on he fairly flew. The wolves, in spite of their desperate
efforts to keep up, were being left further and further behind. At this
Alec rejoiced; but his heart fairly jumped, and fear for an instant
again seized him, as there suddenly burst upon his ears the blood-
curdling howlings of many wolves. It was begun by those in the rear.
It was answered by others that seemed ahead of him. It was re-echoed
back by others that appeared to be further off. Looking back, he
observed that the two that had been following him, when they had
finished their howlings, suddenly disappeared in the forest, evidently
bent upon some new plan of attack.
No wonder that the plucky lad felt that this was a crisis in his life,
and that if ever he had his wits about him they were needed now. As the
result of his early teachings, and the memory of his godly mother, there
sprang from his heart and lips a whispered prayer: "God of my mother,
remember her boy to-night;" and he felt that he was not forgotten.
Like as with fresh soldiers on the battle field, so now that the first
terror had come and gone, a strange spirit of exhilaration came to him,
and seemed to nerve him for the race. He had no weapon with him, not
even a stick in his hand. His wits, his skates, and his power of
endurance must be his reliance in this unique encounter. As well as he
could he endeavoured to recall the different windings in the river, and
the places where he was likely to be attacked later on, if he escaped
the spot where he felt sure the next effort would be made by his cunning
foes.
Rapidly as he was skating, his quick eye caught sight of two of his
foes. They were crouching together on a snow-covered rock that almost
overhung the edge of the stream where it was narrowest. To endeavour to
escape by such fierce brutes, now so aroused by having once missed him,
would have been madness. To have retreated would have been certain
death. Quick as a flash came the ruse to Alec. Dashing up, with a
shout that was a challenge, he made as though he were going to fly by,
but the instant before he reached the spot where his quick eye saw they
would spring upon him he whirled upon the heels of his skates. That
instant they sprang upon the spot where their instinct told them he
ought to have been. He was not there, however, but a few yards in the
rear; so they missed him, and with the momentum of their spring went
sprawling out on the smooth ice. Another turn on the skates, as quick
as the first, and Alec was by them ere they could recover themselves.
Thoroughly baffled and furious, they were speedily in pursuit, and it
required all of Alec's effort to much increase the distance between them
and himself.
Several times they cut across short necks of the little river, and once
so near did they get that the snappings of their terrible teeth were
distinctly heard. One long stretch more, then a double twist, like the
letter S in the river, and he would reach the lake.
Alec was heated now; his clothes were wet with perspiration, in spite of
the bitter cold. That some wolves were ahead of him he was certain.
Home was far away. The other skaters had long since returned from their
outings. Around the great blazing fireplace Mr Ross had more than once
said:
"I am sorry that Alec has remained out so late."
Unknown to the rest of the family, some hunters had reported to him that
already tracks of wolves had been seen in the hunting grounds not many
miles away. These brutes are always very vicious in the beginning of
winter. Their summer supplies of food are cut off, and the deer have
not yet begun to run and thus leave their tracks in the woods. When
another hour had passed on Mr Ross could stand it no longer, and
earnestly exclaimed:
"Who saw Alec last?"
The young clerk who had been last seen with him, and who had not as yet
returned to his trading post, said:--
"I left him near the other side of the lake."
Mr Ross was indignant, but there was now no time for anything but
action. Short and stern were his orders. Alec must be sought after at
once. Hastily rousing up three trusty Indian servants, he and they were
soon out on the lake. All were on skates and armed with guns. A few
dogs were allowed to accompany them, among them being Alec's train. Mr
Ross wisely judged that if they once struck his tracks, such was the
love they had for him, they would soon find him, even if he had become
bewildered and lost his bearings. So, while Alec was still in danger,
help was coming.
Fortunately for him, the river was wider now, and his eyes were so alert
that he could detect his foes, even when quite a distance from them. He
was thus able to see through the disguise of a couple of them that lay
crouching out on the ice, trying to look like the little piles of snow
that the eddying winds had gathered. Still, although he saw them, and
by another clever ruse flew by them, yet so close were they to him, when
they sprang at him, that some of the froth from the mouth of one of them
fell upon him.
To his surprise, these two did not long follow him, but sprang into the
gloom of the forest and disappeared. In the last half of the S-like
river Alec was now speeding. He felt confident that if he could once
reach the lake he would be able by speed, and perhaps some quick
dodging, to elude them; but this last portion of the crooked river
troubled him, and made him doubly cautious.
There is need for it all, for look! There are now not less than a dozen
of them, and they are so arranged on the ice and on the shore that there
is apparently no escape. Those strange howlings, so blood-curdling and
so weird, which the first pair of wolves uttered were understood by
others, and here they are, ready and eager to join in the attack and to
divide the prey.
They seem so confident now, and so loudly do they howl that the great
high rocks echo back the doleful music. To Alec it was now the martial
music that only sharpened his faculties and made him more cautious and
more brave. Boldly skating up to them, he suddenly turned, when almost
in their clutches, and instantly started back up the river as rapidly as
he could skate. On and on he fairly flew, until, owing to the bend in
the river, he was completely out of their sight. Then skating near to
one of the shores he pushed on a couple of hundred yards or so.
Crossing over to the other side, he quickly turned to a spot where,
sheltered by a large tree, he was securely hid in the deep shadow, which
was in sharp contrast to the bright moonlight near him. In this retreat
he had not long to wait ere he saw the wolves, evidently disconcerted,
but coming on his trail. They were stretched out quite apart from each
other, and covered such a distance that he saw that those in front would
be doubling back on him ere all had passed. However, he was confident
that so suddenly could he dash out that, by skillful dodging on the
glassy ice, where the wolves would not have much of a foothold, he could
elude them.
It was a trying moment for the boy, as on the opposite side of the tree,
which rose up directly out of the ice, he heard the measured steps and
even the heavy breathings of the cruel monsters, not fifty yards away.
Fortunately, there was no wind to carry the scent from him to them, and
so they did not detect his stratagem. When about half of them had
passed, with a dash and a shout he was off. So completely taken by
surprise were they that those nearest to him made no attempt to stop
him. The two or three in the rear savagely tried to block his way and
sprang at him, but signally failed to reach him, as Alec skillfully
skated round them and sped onward toward the lake. Furious indeed were
those that had passed him and felt themselves robbed of their victim.
Outwitted were they all, but not yet discouraged. Wolves can run with
great swiftness on the smoothest ice, and although, as we have seen,
they cannot turn quickly, and can be dodged by a clever skater, yet for
a straight go-ahead pace they are not to be despised by the swiftest
runner. Then their powers of endurance are very great, and so it was
evident to Alec that they were resolved, by grim endurance, to run him
down.
Firmly convinced that there were none ahead of him, and that it was now
to be a long race, he wisely resolved not to so force himself that he
could not, if need be, keep up a good rate of speed all the way to the
abode of Mr Ross. It did not take him long to again reach the river
mouth, and as he flew past the spot where, a few minutes before, his
enemies had waited for him he could not but see the sagacity with which
they had selected the place. He was grateful for his deliverance thus
far, but he knew that there was no time for investigation, for the yelps
and howlings distinctly heard told him that his foes were hot on his
trail and not far behind.
Out on the lake he dashed, and still on they came. Alec is hot and
excited now. The strain on him is beginning to tell, and he feels it.
He knows that he could put on a desperate spurt and get far ahead, but
would they not, with that long, steady louping of theirs, gradually
creep up again, and, finding him almost exhausted, make a desperate
spurt, and thus run him down? But he is resolved to succeed, and so he
nerves himself and carefully speeds along, while perhaps not five
hundred yards behind are those merciless pursuers that will not be
shaken off. In this way about ten miles are passed since the mouth of
the river was left. Still on and on they come. The moon is now sinking
low, and the shadows are weird and ghostly. Auroras, phantom-like, flit
in the northern sky, while some of them seem like frightened spirits
flying before avenging enemies. The sight is depressing to Alec, and so
he turns his eyes from beholding them while still on he speeds.
Hark! What is that? It is like the bark of a dog that is instantly
hushed. To Alec it seemed a dream or an illusion; and yet he could not
help putting on a spurt of speed and veering a little out of his course
to see the rocky islands, surrounded by the smooth ice, from which the
dog's bark seemed to come. As he swiftly dashed along how suddenly all
things changed to him, and quick and swift was his deliverance. There
was Mr Ross with his three Indians and a number of dogs.
Alec was saved. He had fairly run into his deliverers. But no time was
to be lost. Fortunately, a high rocky island for a moment hid the
wolves, that were now following wholly by the scent.
With their double-barrelled guns, loaded with balls, the three Indians
rapidly scaled the rocky isle, on the opposite side of which they would
be hid and yet within easy range of the wolves as they came along on
Alec's trail. Mr Ross and Alec had all they could do to quiet the dogs
and keep them still, as some of them were eager to follow the Indians.
Only a few minutes elapsed, as Alec's spurt had only put him a half a
mile or so ahead of the wolves, when the guns rang out once, and then
again as the second barrels were fired. Let loose the dogs now, and let
everyone shout for the rescue and the victory! Five wolves were killed
outright, and one was so badly wounded that the dogs soon ran him down
and dispatched him. The other wolves turned and fled. Mr Ross would
not, at that hour, allow any pursuit of them.
The morning star was shining ere home was reached, and Alec was the hero
of the hour.